Feeding device.



LT. QUIGLEY-f.' FEEDING DEVICE.. APPLICATION FILED NOV. II. 1913.

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Patented. oet. 5, 1915.

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A UNTTED STATES PATENT onirica..

JOHN T. QUIGLEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE COSTMETER COMPANY, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

FEEDING DEVICE. l

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 5, 191,5.

Original application 1ed` November 8, 1913, Serial No. 799,988. Divided and this application filed November 11, 1913. Serial No. 800,424.

.citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, (whose post-oflice address is 9 Norway street, Boston, Massachusetts,) have invented a'n Improvement in Feeding Devices, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to devices for feeding or advancing paper or other record sheets in continuous strip form where such feeding or advance is, required to be carried on accurately and positively.

The invention is applicable to various uses', but more particularly to recording and calculating machines where it is required to advance a paper record strip at a positive and definite rate, as for example, a rate prolportionalfto elapsed time.

The present invention provides means whereby the feeding of such a strip may bel the strip may at all times be exactly proportional to the movement of the carrier.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration'of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectioniin elevation showing strip-feeding mechanism wherein there are employed feeding devices for feeding two continuous strips of paper tape to suitable printing mechanism; Fig. 2 1s a side elevation of one of the tape-feeding drums or carriers. Fig. 3 is a transverse section in elevation showing one ofthe tape A feeding drums and its guard; and` Fig. 4 is` a plan view of a portion of av paper strip or into super-posed relation to the tape-1, which latter passes from its roll 3 under the guide roll 9. In thisrelation they are advanced together past suitable fixed printing or recording devices. The construction of the recording devices is not material to the pres.`

ent invention, andthe same are herein typified by the prlnting plate 10 which may carry raised printing characters and rests transversely the tapes on the bed plate 11 the'latter supported by the block 12. Between the printing plate 10 andthe lower tape there is arranged transversely the tape an inking ribbon 13, and between the tape 2 and the tape 1 a second transverse inking ribbon 14. A platen or wiper block 15 is provided normally at one side of the tapes f and permitting the free feeding movement of the latter, but adapted to be moved with a wiping pressure transversely the tape as may be required to leave the imprint of the printing characters thereon. From the printing mechanism the tape 2 passes about the guide roll 16 and thence to its feeding drum or carrier 17 while the upper tape 1 passes over the feeding roll 18 andthence to its feeding drum or carrier 19. In order to feed the tape a definite, predetermined amount for each revolution of the carrier, the circumference of each tape feeding drum is constructed so as to give the required travel to the tape for each revolution thereof, due allowance being made for the thickness of the tape and the distance from the center of the drum at which the 'tape is punctured, and provision being had whereby slippage or creeping of the tape on the 4drum is avoided. To this end it is necessary that the tape should contact with the drum in closely fitting relation and that positive feeding means should be employed. In the present case the tape is fed positively by means of a series' 0f feeding members 20, herein siX in number, distributed at equal intervals around the circumference of the drum. While a' single series of feedlng points might suliice, preferably a double row or series (Fig. 3) is employed, so that they occur in pairs side by side. This not only insures a positive feed, but keeps the tape alined and prevents it from twisting on the drum. l

The feedin -members are herein in the' .form of need es presenting verr nine points "-.tial relation, so that `.the points incline slightly forward in the direction -of drum rotation in a position securely to grip the 'tape when impaled. Thisrelatiolrof the feeding points provides for penetration" of the tape with the least expenditure of power and the least tendency to disturb the tape on the drum. The relation of the impaling points, however, is such that taken 1n cooperation with the hereinafter described guard there is no tendency to lift or advance the tape relatively to the drum, the former preserving at all times its close fitting relation to .the drum periphery. The number and relation of the feeding points is preferably such that at least two pairs are always engaged with the tape.

To insure the close fitting relation of the tape to the drum and permit the feeding' points to impale the tape without lifting it or advancing it on the drum, means is preferably provided, such as the segmental guard 22 fixed relatively to the drum but overlying the tape or the portion thereof where it is wrapped about the drum. As shown in the drawings, the guard is longitudinally grooved at 23 and 24 in the plane of the needle points so that the latter after impaling the paper may travel through the grooves. At the side of each groove, however, the Walls of the guard approach very closely to the periphery of the drum, leaving only sufficient roomfor the paper and a slight additional clearance. To prevent pinching the paper the drum is preferably provided with circumferential grooves 25 directly opposite the three closely Afitting portions of the guard and arranged in alternation with the grooves 23 and, 24 on the guard. This construction permits the paper to pass freely about the drum and between the drum and the guard and causes it to be impaled bythe feeding points without any danger of its buckling or lifting from the drum. The guard 22 also serves the additional function of insuring precisely the same linear distance between successive punctures of the tape, upon which condition depends the accuracy of the feed. In the described form of the invention the tape is punctured at or closely adjacent the tape receiving edge of the guard. This edge is preferably beveled at such an angle that the tape is presented at substantially right angles to the feeding point as the latter moves into a position of puncture. The puncture of the tape at the beveled edge of the guard also provides that successive punctures in- Varlably take place at precisely the same distance from the center of the drum. With a uniform angle of puncture and a uniform distance from the center Iof the drum, precisely the same distances between successive feed puncture points will always be had and this will be obtained by reason of the presence of the guard irrespective of the tension which may be maintained upon the paper as it is drawn toward the feed drum.

The tape as it leaves-the feeding drumA passes to any suitable storage receptacle and to -prevelit any tendency for the tape to cling to the drum, fixed stripping fingers 26` are employed which are provided with beveled ends entering the middle groove 25 and acting to strip the tape 'from the drum should the former adhere to the latter. The described strip-feeding mechanism may be employed in recording for other machines ofany description ywhereinl an accurate and predetermined advance of the paper strip is required. It is particularly advantageous where an accurate feed of the record strip is required proportional to elapsed time. 4In the illustrative form of the invention two drums 17 and 19 are turned at uniform and predetermined rates proportional tov elapsed time by ,mean's of clockwork mechanism represented at 27. Herein the vrate of 'feed of the two tapes may be diderently adjusted by means of change gearing interposed between the clock-driven shaft 28 and each feeding drum. For this purpose the shaft 28 is provided with two driving gears 29 and 30, the latterrdriving the drum 19 through the intermediate gear 31 'and the driven gear 32, the latter secured to the driving shaft 33 for the feed drum 19. Similarly the gear 29 drives the feed drum 17 through the intermediate gear 34 and the driven gear 35. By this means the two tapes may be made to advance at different rates of speed. and the rate of speed of either tape maybe varied as required by changing the ratio ofthe gears 29 and 34; and 30 and 31, respectively.

I do not herein claim the recording devices or the combination of the recording devices with the feeding mechanism shown in the illustrative embodiment of my invention, the same being claimed in my copending ap- H5 plication Serial No. 799,988.

While I have herein shown and described for purposes of illustration one specific form vof the invention, it is to be understood that of rotation of the drum, and means for.

turning the drum.

l3. In a mechanism for `feeding and meas# uring a continuous record sheet, a feed drum, means for turning the same, impaling points projecting from the feeding surface of the drum adapted to impale the sheet, and a guard extending for a substantial distance over the feeding surface of the drum to .press the sheet into close feeding relation with the surface thereof and the impaling points.

4. In a mechanism for feeding and measuring a continuous' record sheet, "a feed drum, means for turning the same, impalingpoints projecting from the surface thereof at av forward inclination With reference to the direction of drum rotation and adapted to impale the Sheet, and a guard extending for a substantial distance over the feeding surface of the drum to press the sheet into close feeding relation with the surface thereof and the impaling points.

5. In a mechanism for feeding and measf 4uring a continuous record sheet, the combination with a sheet feeding drum, im-

paling points projecting from the surface thereof, and a jsegmental guard plate arranged to press the sheet closely against the drumand provided with one or more grooves to permit the passage of the impaling points.

6. In a mechanism for feeding and measuring a record sheet, the combination lwith a sheet feeding drum, impaling points projecting from the surface thereof, a segmental guard plate arranged to press the sheet closely against the drum and provided with one or more grooves to permit the passage'of the impaling points, said drum being provided With one or more circumferential ing circumferentially for a substantial distance about the drum for pressing the sheet toward the drum on each side of the impaling points.

8. In a mechanism for feeding and measuring a record sheet, the combination With a feeding drum of impaling points projecting from the surface thereof, and means extending circumferentially for a substantial distance about the drum for pressing'the sheet toward the drum oneach side of the impaling points, said drum having. circum-` ferentially arranged grooves opposite the said pressing means and on each side of the impaling points.` y

9.V In 'a mechanism foi feeding andn'easuring a continuous record sheet, the combination with a feeding member having a feeding surface determining the rate" of feed, impaling points projecting from said surface, and means extending for a substantial distance over the feeding surface for pressing the sheet toward the same about the impaling points` f 10. Ina mechanism for feeding and measuring a continuous record sheet, a sheet feeding drum having an accurately dimensioned vfeeding surface, impaling points pro. jecting 'from saidA surface, circumferential Ydepressions in the. feeding surface of theI drum. and means positioned opposite the said depressions for. pressing the sheet into closely fitting relation with reference to the JOHN T. QUIGLEY.

Witnesses: i y

`JOHN R. MoULToN, THOMAS B. BOOTH. 

